Seoul Medical Association Provides Medical Aid to Philippine Korean War Veterans and Scholarships to Their Descendants

Eight Clinics Established
Medical Volunteer Services Provided to 2,951 People

The Seoul Medical Association announced on August 20 that, together with the nonprofit organization Good Medical Forum, it had conducted overseas medical volunteer activities from the 13th to the 17th in San Pedro City, Laguna Province, Philippines, to support Korean War veterans and their families as well as low-income residents in impoverished areas.

The Seoul Medical Association and the Good Medical Forum conducted overseas medical volunteer activities from the 13th to the 17th in San Pedro City, Laguna Province, Philippines, to support Korean War veterans and their families, as well as low-income residents in impoverished areas. Seoul Medical Association

This overseas medical volunteer activity was organized to provide free medical services to Korean War veterans and their families, as well as residents of impoverished areas in the Philippines who are underserved in terms of healthcare.

San Pedro City in Laguna Province is located about an hour's drive from Manila, the capital, and is known as one of the most underprivileged areas in the Philippines. Most residents in the area are low-income individuals living in shantytowns along streams. Due to the poor medical environment, many residents are unable to receive timely and adequate treatment.

The overseas medical volunteer team consisted of 14 doctors, including Jang Youngmin, head of the Seoul Medical Association's medical volunteer team, and Park Hansung, CEO of Good Medical Forum, as well as 20 administrative and medical support staff.

The volunteer group set up eight clinics-including internal medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, and ophthalmology-at the Veterans Memorial Hall, providing medical services to a total of 2,951 people. By specialty, 661 patients received internal medicine care, 549 received pediatric care, 441 received dermatology care, 649 received ophthalmology care, 209 received rehabilitation medicine care, 194 received radiology care, 57 received plastic surgery care, and 191 received obstetrics and gynecology care.

In addition, to support ongoing health management, the team provided nutritional supplements such as vitamin C and B-complex, and also offered transportation expenses to veterans and widows. In particular, scholarships were awarded to descendants of veterans who are entering medical school, and 240 T-shirts were donated for flood victims in San Pedro City.

Hwang Kyuseok, president of the Seoul Medical Association, said, "San Pedro City is an area where many residents must rely on overseas medical volunteer teams to receive treatment for diseases due to the poor medical environment. It was a valuable experience to be able to provide medical care to Filipino residents who have limited access to healthcare," adding, "I would like to thank the medical staff and volunteers who participated in the medical volunteer work for neighbors in need in the Philippines despite the hot weather."

He continued, "This year, we also held a meaningful event by awarding scholarships to descendants of veterans who are entering medical school, and I hope that they will lead the future of Philippine healthcare through their medical education. We will continue to make efforts to carry out medical volunteer work for residents in overseas medically underserved areas whenever the opportunity arises."

Park Hansung, chairman of Good Medical Forum, also stated, "Although the medical environment is still poor, the number of patients has been gradually decreasing over the past two to three years. Based on the conditions of the patients, it seems that improved hygiene is the main reason," adding, "It was rewarding to provide medical benefits to thousands of local residents over the week. As long as I have the strength and ability, I will continue volunteering to support the residents in the long term."

Meanwhile, since its establishment in 2003, the Seoul Medical Association's medical volunteer team has been providing free medical care to foreign workers every Sunday at 1 p.m. On the first Saturday of every month, the team also volunteers for residents in the Namdaemun shantytown area.

Good Medical Forum, established in 2008, also conducts volunteer activities every Saturday for the homeless, North Korean defectors, foreign workers, veterans' families, and local residents. To date, the organization has provided medical volunteer services to a total of 16,370 people, including 20 cleft lip and palate surgeries and 99 cataract surgeries, thereby supporting the health of veterans and their families.